SANTOSH 9702: mahabharata

Showing posts with label mahabharata. Show all posts

Saturday, October 10, 2026

Who are the top 10 strongest warriors in Mahabharata who participated in Kurukshetra war excluding lord Krishna? Don't be biased please!

10# Bhagadutta :

One of the strongest but unrecognized warrior of Mahabharata.
Bhagadutta was son of Narakasura and a friend of Indra.
Bhagadatta got a boon empowered Vaishnavastra from his father which only Vishnu can take.
Bhagadatta was best elephant fighter of his time. His elephant Supratika was most powerful elephant of his time.
Bhagadatta also had a divine gem on his forehead. This is similiar to Ashwatthama.
It is mentioned that this army was consisting of all kings who were defeated or subjugated or those who consisted of his friends, relatives and kinsmen.
Bhagadatta who was the leader of Yavanas and Mlechchas, contributed to Jarasandha’s army.
Bhagadatta defeated two Yavana chiefs Naraka and Mura.
Bhagadatta on 4th day defeated Bhima.
On 7th day , Bhagadatta defeated Ghatotkacha.
On 8th day , Bhagadatta showed great valour and did a lot of damage to Pandavas.
On 12th day , Bhagadatta defeated Bhima twice. He also defeated Yudhisthira, Satyaki and Panchalas. His elephant also caused mass carnage.
Major warriors killed by Bhagadatta are Dasharnaraja and Ruchiparva.

9# Satyaki :

Satyaki is the most underrated warrior of Mahabharata.
Satyaki was a student of Drona and was later trained by Arjuna.
According to Harivamsa Purana, he had destroyed the army of Jarasandha in huge numbers.
Satyaki stalemated Banasura in war of Shonitpura.
Satyaki had defeated great warriors like Drona, Karna, Ashwathama, Kripa, Kritaverma, Shalya, Duryodhana and Dushashana multiple times.
On 5th day, Satyaki killed 10,000 warriors sent against him by Duryodhana.
On 9th day, Satyaki defeated Kripacharya and Ashwathama together sindle-handedly.
On 14th day, his performance was amazing. He had defeated Drona and had protected Yudhisthira.
On 14th day, Satyaki had also performed an incredible feat of defeating Drona while simultaneously handling his chariot when his charioteer got unconcious.
On 14th day, Satyaki had cut off the many bows of Drona , and he had praised Satyaki highly and had called him equavalent to Bhagwan Parshurama, Kartiviraya Arjuna, Arjuna and Bhishma. Even Devas and Gandharvas had applauded his feat.
On 14th day , Satyaki destroyed a large contingent of Yavanas , Kambojas , Shakas , Sharabas , Kiratas and Barbaras. Satyaki through one arrow was killing 5,6,7 and 8 warriors through one arrow.
On 14th day , Satyaki destroyed a whole contingent of Mlecchas—Shakas, Kambojas, Bahlikas, Yavanas, Paradas, Kunindas, Tanganas, Ambashthas, Pishachas and those from mountainous regions consisting of 3,000 riders—1,000 elephants , 2,000 horse-cavalry , and 1,000 Rathas , 100 Maharathas and 500 mountain warriors.
On 14th day , Satyaki had defeated Karna and the sons of Dhritrashtra and had spared their lives. He had also defeated Ashwathama, Kritaverma, Vrishasena, Shalya and Kripa along with them.
On 14th night , Satyaki along with Nakula and Sahadeva killed all Rakshashas of Alayudha.
Major warriors killed by Satyaki are Vyagradatha, Jalasandha, Sudarshana, Alambusa, Somadatta, Bhuri, Prasena , Vinda and Anuvinda of Kekeya, Vanga, Shalwa and Kshemdhurti.
Dhritrashtra and Sanjaya have compared him with Arjuna several times. Even Arjuna trusted him, and told that he trusted him and Pradyumna for the protection of Yudhisthira in his absence.
Satyaki suffered some defeats against Karna, Ashwathamma, etc when he was involved in group attacks.
Satyaki also killed Bhurishava through deciet.

8# Bhimasena :

Bhimasena is one the greatest heroes of Mahabharata.
When Bhima was born he fell from Kunti's Lap and it broke the mountain and rocks.
Bhima carried all his brothers and Mother during escape from Lakshagraha and further.
Bhima's mace was one and half times stronger than any normal mace. He got it from Maya danav and it was of king Youvanashva.
Bhima killed mighty Rakshashas and warriors like Hidimba, Bakasura, Jarasandha, Kirimira, Jatasura, Kichaka and 105 Upakichakas through his wrestling.
Bhima killed and defeated many Krodavashas Rakshashas of Kubera through his mace.
Bhima killed Rakshasha Manimaan and almost his whole army.
Bhima conquered east direction in Rajasuya and also defeated Karna in Rajasuya.
Bhima was an excellent all rounder. He was a great Archer . He infact killed most of the warriors in Kurukshetra battle with Bow and arrows .
Bhima defeated almost all foremost warrior of Kauravas army including Drona, Karna, Shalya, Kritaverma, Kripa and Duryodhana .
On 2nd day a terrible battle happened between Bhima and Kalinga and Nishada army. Bhima first killed Shakradeva the prince of Kalinga. Then by grabbing his sword he climbed the elephant of Kalinga general Bhanuman by stepping on tusk and chopped him off from middle. He again then killed hundreds of Kalinga with sword in battle. Then he killed King of Kalinga Shrutayu and his wheel protectors Satyadeva and Satya with his arrows. He then killed King of Nishada Ketuman also. Then Kalinga army again surrounded Bhima and Bhima took up his mace and instantly killed 700 of them. He did all this majorly standing on ground. He slaughtered all of Kalinga and Nishada army single-handedly.
On 4th day , Bhima again caused major carnage of elephant and chariot warriors divisions.
On 14th day , Bhima defeated Drona 3 times first by throwing his mace on him, second by archery and third by picking and throwing him with his chariot by his bare hands and killed 11 brothers in front of him.
Bhima repeatedly defeated Karna on 14th day , 20 brothers of Duryodhan died on 14th day at the hands of Bhima trying to save Karna.
On day 16th , Bhima and Ashwathama had a fierce duel. Siddhas and Charanas were exclaiming “Well Done! Bhima”,”Well Done!Drauni”.
On 17th day, Bhima chopped Dusshasana's chest to drink blood and then beheaded him with same sword.
As per Arjuna only Bhima had right to scold Him.
Major warriors killed by Bhima are Bahalika, Mleccha Angaraja, Dhruva, Jayarata, Vrisharatha, Shatachandra, Shalwa, Kshemdhurti and Bhanusena.
Bhima was second greatest mace-fighter of Kurukshetra War behind Duryodhana , hence he used unfair tactics to kill him.

7# Ghatotkacha :

Ghatotkacha even surpassed his father Bhima as a warrior.
Ghatotkacha was king of Rakshashas and he knew the tactics to fight in night.
On 3rd day, Ghatotkacha knocked down Duryodhana unconscious.
On 4th day, Ghatotkacha defeated and nearly killed Bhagadatta.
In same day through his maya he created a replica of Airavata elephant and also created Anjana, Vamana and Mahapadma elephants for his Rakshasha companions.
Through his roar he created such fear in Kaurava Army that Bhishma decided on tactical retreat for Kuru Army.
On 8th day, when Duryodhana and Ghatotkacha met , Ghatotkacha would have killed Duryodhana had Vangaraja did not took the Rakshasha’s shakti on his elephant thus killing it.
On the same day , Ghatotkacha defeated Drona, Somadatta, Bahlika, Jayadratha, Kripa, Bhurishrava, Shalya, Chitrasena, Vivimshati, Ashvatthama, Vikarna, the one from Avanti and Brihadbala. All these warriors were sent by Bhishma to save Duryodhana from Ghatotkacha.
Later, Ghatotkacha created a great Maya where with the exception of Bhishma and Sanjaya everybody saw the dead-body of each-other and retreated to their camps.
On 12th day , Ghatotkacha created clubs, maces, chakras, catapults, battleaxes, dust, wind, fire, water, ashes, stones, grass and trees to strike Kaurava Army and causing a rout.
On 14th night , Ghatotkacha killed many Kshatriyas while fighting Karna.
Ghatotkacha killed all three Rakshasha warriors of Kauravas —— Ālambuśa, Alambala and Alayudha.
He saved the life of his father Bhima from Alayudha.
He became so destructive in the night of day 14 that even Drona, Ashwathama and Kripa were unable to face him.
Even Karna was on the verge of death fighting him. He was getting defeated.
The red cloud Maya generated by him was so powerful that Karna and others failed to counter it. It created a great carnage and as per the soldiers he was more fierce than Arjuna and Bhima.
Karna had to use his Indra’s Śakti (Spear) to kill Ghatotkacha thus saving Arjuna.
He increased his size and turned his gigantic form while dying and thus killing a large part of Kaurava Army even while dying.

6# Karna :

Karna was a supreme archer of his time.
Karna was trained by Parshurama, Dronacharya and Kripacharya.
Karna was also was friends with Gandharvas and Rakshashas and got trained by them.
Karna defeated Shishupala, Jarasandha, Bhishmaka, Vakra, Kapotaroma, Nila, Rukmi, Srigala, Ashoka, Shatadhanva and Bhojaraja in Kalinga Swayamvara.
Defeated Jarasandha in a duel and made him beg for mercy.
Conquered kingdoms of Kamboja, Gandharas, Ambastathas, Videhas and Kiratas.
Defeated Kashi kingdom army to bring another wife for Duryodhana.
Karna killed the strong king of Nipas, Bhallata.
Karna defeated four Pandava brothers name Yudhishthir, Bhimasena, Nakul and Sahdeva multiple times and also spare their lives.
On 11th day, Karna single-handed defeated Virata and his Matsya army.
On 12th day, all 5 brothers of Kekeya were defeated by Karna.
On 14th night, Karṇa defeated Ghaṭōtkaca multiple times . He once caught the Asani of Rudra thrown by Ghaṭōtkaca and threw it back on him.
On 14th night, Karṇa defeated Satyaki, Yudhamanyu, Shikhandi, Uttamuja and Dhrishtadyumna together.
On 14th night, Karṇa killed the Rakshasas, Yatudhanas and Pishacas of Ghaṭōtkaca.
Karṇa’s greatest feat is killing Ghaṭōtkaca using Indra’s Śakti (Spear).
During his tenure as commander-in-chief of Kauravas, Karna caused a great carnage among Panchalas, Videhas, Kekayas and Srinjyas.
On 16th day, Karna defeated Satyaki, Yudhamanyu, Shikhandi, Droupadeyas, Uttamouja, Yuyutsu, Nakula, Sahadeva, Dhrishtadyumna, Chetikana and Yudhisthitra together.
At the same time he defeated the Prabhadrakas, Chedis, Karushas, Matsyas and Kekayas.
On 17th day, Karna defeated Yudhisthira so bad that he retreated to his camp and returned only after his death.
On 17th day, Karṇa’s Bhargavaastra killed many troops of Panchalas.
On 17th day , Karna defeated Dhrishtadyumna, Shikandi, Janamajaya, Yudhamanyu and Uttmaujas together.
With Karna’s death , Duryodhana completely lost Kurukshetra War.

5# Ashwathama :

Ashwathama like his father was a peerless archer.
Ashwathama had increased his strength through intense Tapas in hermitage.
Ashwathama’s skill is second only to Arjuna in Gurukul. His arrows too travel in linear momentum in perfect straight line and touching each other’s end.
Ashwathama received all the Divyastras including Brahmashira and Narayanastra from Guru Drona who in turn got all the weapons from Parshurama Bhagwan. So Ashwatthama possesses all the Divyastras Parshurama Ji had.
He was the only warrior who had given good fights to Arjuna. Even in Virata War, he was the only one who had stalemated Arjuna. He had even achieved a very difficult feat of cutting off the string of Gandiva, which was later perfomed by Karna. Ashwathamma had to retreat because his weapons had exhausted. Later he was defeated by Arjuna when he failed to counter Sammohanastra.
On 14th day, he had saved Karna from Arjuna three times first by saving him against Arjuna arrows and second by taking him on his chariot.
On 14th night , he had fought against Ghatotkacha and had defeated him , when almost all the Kaurava maharathi including Karna were struggling. He had single-handedly killed 1 akshauni of demons created by Ghatotkacha. He had also killed Anjanprabha, the son of Ghatotkacha infront of Ghatotkacha’s eyes.
On 14th night , he killed 1,00,000 Pandava warriors. Later he defeated Drishtadyumna and caused great carnage among Pandavas.
On 14th night , when Ghatotkacha attacked him with a Rudra Shatagani , he caught and hurled it back against him and destroying his chariot and defeating him.
After Drona’s death, he had fired Narayanastra at the Pandavas. This had caused huge destruction in the Pandava army. On the advice of Bhagwan Sri Krishna , the Pandavas surrendered to it and saved themselves.
The same day he defeated Bhima, Satyaki and Drishtadyumna.
After this , Ashwathamma released high Agneyastra which burnt 1 akshauni of Pandava army , and was later countered by Arjuna using low Brahmastra.
On day 16th , Bhima and Ashwathama had a fierce duel. Siddhas and Charanas were exclaiming “Well Done! Bhima”,”Well Done!Drauni”.
On the same day , in his duel against Arjuna he released billions of arrows.
On day 17th , Ashwathama defeated Yudhisthira, Satyaki and Upapandavas. On the same day , he defeated and nearly killed Dhrishtadyumna had Arjuna did not saved him.
Major warriors killed Ashwathama are Nila, Shrutaharya, Hemamali , Prishaghna , Chandradeva, Pourava Vriddhakshatra, Chedirajkumar, Sudarshana, Malayadhwaja Pandya and Suratha.
On 18th night , he satisfied Mahadeva and Shiva came inside him and through his powers killed Upapandavas and Panchalas.

4# Abhimanyu :

Abhimanyu like his father was warrior par excellence who showed remarkable courage and bravery.
Abhimanyu was trained by Sri Krsna , Balrama , Arjuna and Pradyumna.
Abhimanyu like his father Arjuna became an Atiratha after his training period himself.
Abhimanyu was fourth person to completely understand to break Chakravyuha after Sri Krsna, Arjuna and Pradyumna knew how to break Chakravyuha.
Abhimanyu defeated each Kaurava warrior except Bhishma.
Abhimanyu in 1st day itself stalemated none other Bhishma and break his standard and Bhishma had to use Divyastras against him.
On 4th day , Abhimanyu defeated a group attack of Ashwathama, Chitrasena, Bhurishava and Sayamani’s son.
On 4th day , Abhimanyu killed Magadharaja’s elephant.
On 6th day , Abhimanyu led a rescue mission to save Bhima and Dhristhadyumna.
On 8th day , Abhimanyu defeated Ambhastha.
On 9th day , Abhimanyu caused great carnage in Kaurava Army , overpowered Drona, Jayadratha, Ashwathama, Kripa and Brihadbal and also defeated Rakshasha Alambusa and Chitrasena.
On 11th day , Abhimanyu defeated Paurava, Shalya and Jayadratha.
On 13th day , Abhimanyu in Chakravyuha killed 100s of princes with his Gandharvastra.
On 13th day , in Chakravyuha Abhimanyu also slayed 10,000 warriors.
Even chariot-less attacked from all directions Abhimanyu killed 77 Gandhara warriors, 10 Brahma-Vastiya warriors and 10 elephants.
In Chakravyuha Abhimanyu killed Vasatiya, Satyashrava, Rukmaratha, Lakshmana, Vrindarak, Brihadbala, Ashwaketu, Martavikata Bhoja.
In Chakravyuha in front of all warriors he killed Ashmak-putra, Shalya's brother and Kratha-putra and also killed Karna's brother and his advisors in his very sight.
Incredibly powerful warriors like Ashwathama and Karna could not defeat Abhimanyu a single time they fought in war while Abhimanyu defeated them every-time they fought.
Drona was so frustrated by Abhimanyu, that when his commrades were defeated by Abhimanyu and seek his guidance, he asked Karna to attack him from behind and surrounded Abhimanyu and fought him through the means of deceit.

3# Dronacharya :

Guru Drona was both an excellent teacher and warrior.
Guru Drona first got his education from Rishi Bharadwaja.
Guru Drona received the knowledge of the Agneya missile from Rishi Agnivesha.
Guru Drona also got all the missiles and weapons from Bhagwan Parshuram with an exception of Parashu which is obvious. Bhargava Rama also gave him the knowledge of the mysteries of Dhanurveda.
Guru Drona also received Brahmashira from Agastya Maharishi.
Guru Drona also performed austerities as received the Narayanastra from Sri Vishnu.
Dronacharya showed his skills by taking out his ring and ball of Pandavas through mere grass.
Dronacharya caused more damage than any Kuru commander.
Guru Drona defeated all the Pandava warriors other than Arjuna.
On 6th day , Drona countered Dhrishtadyumna’s Pramohanastra and caused great carnage among Pandava Army.
On 11th day , Drona would have captured Yudhisthira had it not for Arjuna.
On 12th day , Drona defeated Satyaki, Chekitana, Dhrishtadyumna, Shikhandi, Vardhakshemi, Chitrasena, Senabindu and Suvarchas together.
On 13th day , Drona defeated Satyaki, Chekitana, Dhrishtadyumna, Kuntibhoja, Drupada, Abhimanhyu, Kshatradharma, Brihatkshatra, Dhrishtaketu, Nakula, Sahadeva Ghatotkacha, Yudhamanyu, Shikhandi, Uttamouja, Virata and Upapandavas together.
On 14th day , Drona defeated Satyaki and killed 25 Maharathas and 100 Kekeyas.
On the 15th day wreaked havoc on the battlefield.
On 15th day , Drona killed 20,000 Panchalas.
The major warriors killed by him are Drupada, Virata, Shanka, Kumara, Yugandhara, Vyagrahadatta, Simahasena, Vikra, Satyajit, Dridhasena , Kshema, Vasudana, Brihatkshatra, Drishtaketu, Magadharaj Sahadeva, Kshatradharma and Shibi. He killed all them fairly.
He wiped Chedis, Kekayas, Matsyas, and Panchalas who were present before him
Dronacharya got frustrated very quickly and was unable to defeat Abhimanyu and hence killed him through deciet.
On 15th day, out of frustration he fired his celestial missiles like Brahmāstra on ordinary foot soldiers. He disgraced himself by misusing such weapons.

2# Bhishma :

Bhishma was one of the greatest warriors of Mahabharata.
Bhiṣma stopped the flow of Ganga through his arrows.
Bhishma hastily took oath of Brahmacharya for his father.
Bhiṣma had killed a tyrant king named Ugrayudha.
Bhiṣma defeated Parśurāma in a duel. Parśurāma himself declared that he failed to defeat Bhiṣma and accepted his own defeat.
Bhīṣma defeated 1000s of kings who were assisted by their army during the Kāśī Svayaṁvara.
Jarasandha did not dared go against Hastinapura due to Bhishma.
Though he fought mildly as he promised, he broke the spirit of the Pāndavas troops without the misuse of celestial missiles.
He held the Kauravas for ten days.
With the sole exception of Arjuna , there is no warrior in Pandvas army who has either defeated Bhishma or Bhishma has not defeated.
Bhīṣma ,when fought fiercely while Arjuna fought mildly, made Kṛṣṇa lift his arms twice, a feat that neither Drōna nor any other Kaurava warrior achieved.
As long as he lived the victory for Pāndavas was almost impossible.
On the eight day morning he killed lakhs of Pandava troop.
On the ninth day of battle he caused havoc by the use of his ordinary arrows alone.
On the tenth day of battle Arjuna had to save Sātyaki, Śikanḍi, Abhimanyu, Bhīma, Ghaṭotkaca, Upapandavas, Dhrishtadyumna, Nakula, Sahadeva, Virata, Drupada, Chetikana, Kuntibhoja, 5 Kekeya brothers, Susharma and Dhrishketu from Bhiṣma, else most of the aforesaid warriors would have been slain.
On 10th day, Bhishma killed Shatanika and many troops of Pandavas in lakhs.
He had the power to end the entire battle with his gaze. A strength which was possessed by only Gāndhāri and Yuddhiṣṭhira.
Bhiṣma had a lot of battle experience compared to any other Kaurava warrior.

1# Arjuna :

Arjuna is definately the greatest warrior of Mahabharata.
He literally passed the test of Mahadeva and got deeksha from him.
Bhagwan Krishna in Bhagwat Geeta says he was Arjuna among Pandavas.
He was a brahmachari from childhood.
He had most overpowered devine arsenal all through his hardwork .
He was best student of Dronacharya and learnt all 4 viddhis from him , later after learning from Mahadeva he knew all 5 viddhis of archery.
He won Draupadi swayamvar while Karna , Shalya and Jarsandha failed . He also defeated Karna when he attacked Draupadi in same competition.
He defeated Drupad and his army for his Guru Drona.
He defeated the combined army of Devas , Nagas , Rakshasas , Danavas , Daityas , and Suparnas along with Bhagwan Krishna.
He defeated 3 crore Nivatkavachas and killed them.
He consume almost 60000 Kalkeyas through his Raudrastra.
He saved Duryodhana by killing many Gandharvas and winning the war against Chitrasena.
He also defeated Chitaratha who according to Sri Krishna was strongest Gandharva.
During his Rajsuya campaign he conquered the largest area , extract tribute from the likes Bhagadutta and Gandharvas of North and even getting admiration and tribute from Uttar Kuru due to his commitement to Dharma , despite mortals not allowed there . Thus he was called Dhananjaya.
He easily lifted 5 celestial crocodiles and killing them thus freeing those crocodiles from their curse to become apsaras , thus also freeing five tirtha places which were abandoned , during his vanvaas.
He along with his brothers easily defeated Jayadratha and captured when he wanted to kidnap Draupadi.
He crushed the pride of Kurus in Virat when defeated all major warriors Bhishma , Drona , Karna etc singlehandedly together and one by one all within one war only.
He destroyed Dhristarashtra forces to such an extent in 2nd day that Bhishma and Drona chose to withdraw the army the moment they see the sun going down.
He defeated Bhishma , Drona , Ashwathama , Bhurishrava , Jayadratha , Somadatta , Bahilika , Salya , Sala , Chitrasena , Srutayush , and Kripa together on 3rd day through his aindrasatra.
On 5th day, he killed 25000 warriors while simultaniously fighting with Great Bhishma.
He deafeated 12 different armies who tried to protect Gangaputra Bhishma by killing Shikahnadi on 10th day.
He defeated Drona and kuru army in order to save Yudhisthira from capture by Drona on 11th day.
On 12th day, he destroyed the Narayana forces with Twashta weapon.
On 14th day, he killed 7 akshoulinis army.
On 15th day, he kept Duryodhana , Karna , Ashwathama and Kripa at bay so none can stop the samadhi or capture of Drona , sad for him he did not knew Dhristadyumna and Bhima had their own plans.
On 16th day, he destroyed Sampakshatakas and routed whole Kaurava army together.
On 17th day, he destroyed Sampakshatakas and while fighting his last battle with Karna he completely decimated his forces thus cutting off his supply line and made him completely alone.
On 18th day, he decimated the remaining Sampakshataks.
The major warriors killed by him during Kurukshetra war are Bhishma , Karna , Vrishasena , Bhagadutta , Achala , Vrishaka , Vinda , Anuvinda , Jayadratha , Susharama , Ugrayudhasuta , Danda , Dandandhara , Sudakshina , Srutayu , Achatayu , Ambasthanaresh Sruthayu , and Sabhapati . He killed all of them fairly.
He won whole earth during Ashwamedha campaign for Yudhisthira.
He bravely fought Dwarka robbers even though due to curse and will of Sri Krishna his powers were gone , still he defeated them and saved 99% of all Dwarka women , the women that were caught by robbers were cursed by Ashtavakra but the curse also said that nothing bad will happen to them and they would safely ascend to Swarga the moment robbers took them , so nothing bad happened to them. They due to curse of Rishis and Ashtavakra simply got kidnapped by robbers but they were Apsaras who wanted Sri Krishna as husband and after his death went to swarga safely fulfilling the curse , so Arjuna was not fault at this.

Jai Sri Krsna.

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

What are the key feats that Karna achieved on the 16th day of the war that make him stand out?

Karṇa’s feats on 16th day of Kurukshetra War :

Karṇa caused great carnage in Chaturgini-army of Pandavas :

O supreme among kings! Yet again, there was a terrible encounter and clash between Karna and the Pandavas and it extended Yama’s kingdom. Wishing to kill each other, they swiftly grasped bows, arrows, clubs, swords, lances, spikes, maces, catapults, spears, scimitars, battleaxes, bludgeons, javelins, cutlasses, darts, slings and large hooks and descended. The whizzing of arrows and the sound of palms against bowstrings extended into the sky, the directions and the sub-directions. As they attacked, they roared and the earth resounded with the thunder of chariot wheels. Those great sounds of battle cheered them. Brave ones fought extremely terrible battles with brave ones, wishing to bring an end to the hostility. There were sounds from bowstrings, palm-guards and bows and the trumpeting of elephants. They were attacked and as they fell down, roared loudly. There were many sounds generated by the arrows and by the roars of brave ones.

Chapter 1166(16) , Karna-Vadha Parva , Karna Parva.

Karṇa killed 15 warriors of Pandava Army :

O descendant of the Bharata lineage! On hearing this terrible sound, some were frightened, turned pale and fell down. There were many among them who roared and showered down arrows. In the battle, Atiratha Karna crushed many of them with his arrows. With his arrows, Karna conveyed five heroes from Panchala, ten rathas and five others, with their horses, charioteers and standards, to Yama’s eternal abode.

Chapter 1166(16) , Karna-Vadha Parva , Karna Parva.

Karṇa kept defeating and killing Panchalas and Srynjayas :

Many foremost and immensely valorous warriors from the Pandus swiftly attacked Karna in that battle and surrounding him from all sides, covered the sky with their weapons. Karna agitated the enemy soldiers with his shower of arrows. He was like the leader of a herd plunging into a lake full of birds and lotuses. Radheya penetrated into the midst of the enemy. He brandished his supreme bow and using his sharp arrows, began to bring down their heads. The shields and armour were shattered and the bodies were deprived of life. There was no one among them who needed the touch of a second arrow. The arrows that were released from the bow crushed armour and bodies. The bowstrings and palm-guards were shattered, like horses lashed with a whip. Whenever Pandus, Srinjayas and Panchalas came within the reach of his arrows, Karna quickly struck them in the inner organs, like a lion among large numbers of deer.

Chapter 1166(16) , Karna-Vadha Parva , Karna Parva.

Karṇa defeated Nakula and spared his life :

O king! While Nakula was violently destroying the soldiers in the battle, Vaikartana Karna repulsed him. Nakula laughed and spoke to Karna. ‘After a long time, because of the kindness of destiny, you have seen me. O wicked one! And in this battle, you have surfaced before my sight. You are the root cause of the evil, the enmity and the quarrel. It is because of your sins that those of the Kuru lineage are clashing against each other and are being destroyed. I will kill you in the battle today and become successful, devoid of fever.’
Having been thus addressed, the son of the suta, who was himself like a prince and also an archer, replied to Nakula. ‘O child! Strike me in this battle. Let me see your manliness. O brave one! One should boast only after having performed deeds in a battle. O son! Those who do not speak in an encounter, but fight to the best of their strength, are known as brave. Fight with me, to the utmost of your strength and I will destroy your pride today.’
Having spoken thus, the son of the suta swiftly struck Pandu’s son. In that battle, he pierced him with seventy-three arrows that had been sharpened on stone. O descendant of the Bharata lineage! Having been thus pierced by the son of the suta, Nakula pierced the son of the suta back with eighty arrows that were like venomous serpents. Karna severed his bow with gold-tufted arrows that had been sharpened on stone. The supreme archer then struck Pandava with thirty arrows. Those pierced his armour and drank his blood in the battle. They were like venomous serpents that drink water after entering the earth. O great king! Nakula, the destroyer of enemy heroes, became angry at this. He picked up another bow with a back that was embellished with gold. It was extremely difficult to resist. He pierced Karna with twenty arrows and his charioteer with three. With an extremely sharp arrow that was like a razor at the tip, he severed Karna’s bow. Having severed the bow, the brave one, who was regarded as a maharatha by the entire world, laughed and struck him with three hundred arrows. O venerable one! On seeing that Karna was thus afflicted by Pandu’s son, all the rathas and all the gods were struck by supreme wonder. Vaikartana Karna picked up another bow and struck Nakula between the shoulder joints with five arrows. With those arrows sticking to his chest, Madri’s son looked resplendent on the chariot, as if the sun was using its rays to shower radiance on the earth. O venerable one! Nakula pierced Karna with seven iron arrows and again severed the ends of his bow.
In that encounter, he picked up another bow that was even more powerful and enveloped Nakula and all the directions with his arrows. When the maharatha was suddenly covered with arrows released from Karna’s bow, he swiftly used his own arrows to slice down those arrows. The sky was seen to be shrouded with a net of arrows and it was as if the firmament was covered with a large number of fireflies that were flitting around. Hundreds of arrows were released and covered the sky and it was as if it was full of a swarm of locusts that had been stirred up by the wind. Arrows decorated in gold descended repeatedly in an array and were as beautiful as an array of swans. When the sky was covered by the arrows, the sun was shrouded. O lord of the earth! No beings could descend and nothing could be seen. In every direction, those large numbers of arrows obstructed their paths. Those two immensely fortunate ones were as resplendent as two young suns that had just arisen. The arrows released from Karna’s bow slaughtered the Somakas. O Indra among kings! They were severely afflicted and pained by the arrows and lost their lives. In a similar way, Nakula’s arrows killed your soldiers. O king! They were driven away in all the directions, like clouds dispelled by the wind. Those two sets of soldiers were slaughtered by their large and divine arrows and withdrew from that rain of arrows, remaining only as spectators. When the men there were driven away by Karna and Pandava’s arrows, those two great-souled ones started to pierce each other with their showers of arrows. In that field of battle, they displayed their divine weapons. Wishing to kill each other, they violently enveloped each other. The arrows released by Nakula were tufted with the feathers of herons and peacocks. They seemed to remain stationed there, after having enveloped Karna. O king! Both of them seemed to be in a chamber created by arrows and could not be seen. They were like the moon and the sun, enveloped during the monsoon.
Karna became wrathful in that battle and assumed a fiercer form. In every direction, he shrouded Pandava with showers of arrows. O king! In that encounter, Pandava was enveloped by the son of the suta. However, like the sun covered by clouds, he felt no pain. O venerable one! At this, Adhiratha’s son laughed in the battle and shot hundreds and thousands of nets of arrows. The arrows of the great-souled one seemed to cover everything in a canopy of shade. Those supreme arrows were like clouds that were descending. O great king! The great-souled Karna severed his bow. He laughingly brought his charioteer down from the seat on the chariot. O descendant of the Bharata lineage! With four sharp arrows, he killed his four horses and quickly dispatched them to Yama’s abode. O venerable one! Using his arrows, he swiftly shattered his chariot into tiny fragments and also destroyed his flags, the ones who protected his wheels, his standard, his sword, his shield that was decorated with the signs of one hundred moons and all his implements. O lord of the earth! His horses were slain. He was without a chariot. He was devoid of his armour. He quickly descended from his chariot and stood there, with a club. O king! That extremely terrible club was raised. However, using hundreds and thousands of arrows, the son of the suta shattered it into fragments. On seeing that he was without any weapons, Karna struck with many arrows with drooping tufts, but made sure that he did not hurt him grievously. O king! Nakula was defeated in that battle by someone who was powerful and was skilled in the use of weapons.
With his senses afflicted, he suddenly fled. Radheya followed him, laughing repeatedly. O descendant of the Bharata lineage! O king! He placed the string of his bow around the neck of the one who was running away. Pulled by the string of the great bow around his neck, he was as resplendent as the moon in the sky, surrounded by white clouds and decorated with Shakra’s bow. Karna spoke these words to him. ‘The words that were spoken by you have been rendered futile. You have been repeatedly struck by me. Can you cheerfully utter them again? O Pandava! Do not fight again with those who are your superior in strength. O son! O Pandava! Fight with those who are your equals. Do not be ashamed at this. O son of Madri! Go home, or go where Krishna and Phalguna are.’ O great king! Having spoken these words, he released him. O king! Though he could have been killed, the son of the suta did not kill him. O king! He remembered Kunti’s words and abandoned him. O king! Having been released by the archer son of the suta, Pandava was ashamed and went towards Yudhishthira’s chariot. Having been tormented by the son of the suta, he ascended that chariot and sighed, scorched by grief, like angry snakes inside a pot.

Chapter 1167(17) , Karna-Vadha Parva , Karna Parva.

Karṇa crushed the Panchalas :

Having abandoned him in the battle, Karna swiftly advanced against the Panchalas. He was on a chariot with dazzling flags and drawn by horses with the complexion of the moon. O lord of the earth! When they saw the commander advancing against the Panchalas on his chariot, a great uproar arose among the Pandavas. O great king! The son of the suta caused carnage there. As the sun reached its midday spot, the lord roamed and wheeled around. The wheels of chariots were shattered. The standards and flags of others were torn. O venerable one! The son of the suta killed charioteers and shattered the wheels. We saw the dispirited Panchalas fleeing on their chariots. Crazy elephants were terrified and roamed here and there, as if their limbs had been burnt by a conflagration in a great forest. The temples of elephants were shattered and they exuded blood. Their trunks were severed. O venerable one! Their bodies and armour were mangled, their tails were sliced down. They were like dispelled clouds, destroyed by that great-souled one. There were other elephants that were frightened because of the iron arrows and hundreds of spears. They advanced towards him, like insects towards a fire. We saw other giant elephants destroying each other. Blood flowed from their bodies, like water from the slopes of mountains. Horses lost their breastplates, the dressings on their tails and their silver, bronze and golden ornaments. Their coverings were destroyed and they lost their bridles. Whisks, spreads and quivers fell down. Brave riders, the ornaments of a battle, were killed. In that battle there, we saw supreme horses wandering around. O lord of men! We saw the best of warriors who fought on horses, with lances, swords and scimitars. They wore armour and headdresses. They were destroyed. There were chariots embellished with gold, yoked to swift horses. With the rathas swiftly slain, we saw them roaming around.
O venerable one! Wheels and poles were destroyed for some, wheels were shattered for others. There were others without flags and standards, or with their yokes destroyed. O lord of the earth! Deprived of everything, we saw rathas wandering around in every direction, scorched by the arrows and weapons of Surya’s son. There were those without weapons. And there were many with weapons, but they had been killed. We saw many foot soldiers from their side running around in every direction. They were adorned with colourful flags of many different hues, decorated with bells. There were other warriors with severed head, arms and thighs. We saw the arrows released from Karna’s bow sever them. We beheld those warriors confront a terrible and great calamity. They were killed by Karna’s sharp arrows. In that battle, the Srinjayas were slaughtered by the son of the suta, as they advanced towards him, like insects towards a flame. In every spot there, he consumed those arrays of maharathas and the kshatriyas avoided him, taking him to be the fire that comes at the time of the destruction of a yuga. The remnants of the brave Panchala maharathas were routed and retreated. Karna pursued them from the rear, showering arrows. They were devoid of armour and standards, but the spirited one pursued them. The maharatha son of the suta tormented them with his arrows. It was like the destroyer of darkness scorching beings when it has attained midday.

Chapter 1167(17) , Karna-Vadha Parva , Karna Parva.

Karṇa defeated Satyaki, Yudhamanyu, Shikhandi, Droupadeyas, Uttamouja, Yuyutsu, Nakula, Sahadeva, Dhrishtadyumna, Chetikana and Yudhisthitra together. At the same time he defeated the Prabhadrakas, Chedis, Karushas, Matsyas and Kekayas :

However, Satyaki advanced against Karna and pierced him with sharp arrows, first with ninety-nine fierce arrows and yet again with one hundred. All the foremost among the Pandus oppressed Karna—Yudhamanyu, Shikhandi, Droupadi’s sons, the Prabhadrakas, Uttamouja, Yuyutsu, the twins and Parshata. The Chedis, Karushas, Matsyas, Kekayas and their armies, the powerful Chekitana and Dharmaraja, excellent in his vows—these rathas, horses, elephants and foot soldiers who were fierce in their valour—surrounded Karna in that battle and released many kinds of weapons. All of them devoted themselves to killing Karna and addressed him in fierce and eloquent words. Karna used his sharp arrows to cut down those numerous showers of weapons. He destroyed all of them, like a wind breaks down trees. One saw Karna angrily use his storm of arrows to destroy rathas, elephants and their riders, horses and their riders. The Pandu forces were slaughtered by Karna’s energy. Most of them lost their weapons and their bodies were wounded. They retreated.

Chapter 1171(21) , Karna-Vadha Parva , Karna Parva.

Jai Sri Krsna.